Give and Take

West heeded his partner's overcall, and led his stiff club.

Reading the writing on the wall, declarer flew up with the ace, led a low diamond to the jack, crossed to the ♥ A and ruffed a heart. Declarer then cashed another diamond, glad for the good break, crossed to the ♠ A, and ruffed another heart, felling East's king, at this position:

			♠ 10 4 ♥ Q 5 ♦ — ♣ Q 4
♠ K J 9 7 6 ♥ 10 ♦ — ♣ —						♠ — ♥ — ♦ — ♣ K 10 9 8 5 3
			♠ 8 5 ♥ — ♦ 10 9 7 ♣ J

With the lead in hand, declarer lead the ♣ J. Upon winning this trick, East would have to give entry to dummy's two queens, allowing declarer to pitch his spades.

But our East was cleverer - she simply let declarer win the ♣ J. A simple play, but one which entirely destroyed declarer. By giving up the only trick in her hand, she also kept declarer from reaching dummy, and West scored two spade tricks.